Kings Island's Windseeker debut delayed due to weather

MASON, OH (FOX19) -

Standing 301 feet tall, Kings Island's Windseeker is not standing up to its expectations for opening on time.

The park says it had to delay the debut because of all the rain in April, pushing back inspections and operations tests. "We're in that final phase now with the testing process, so once we get the testing completed, we'll get the ride commissioned and we'll have it open," says spokesperson Don Helbig.

The park cannot promise an exact date but emphasized it will be in the next few days. Crews are now running water dummies on the ride to represent different weights of visitors.

Tamara Anderson of Evendale and her son are anxiously awaiting their ride in the sky but understand delays are part of the process. "As a parent, safety is always my number one concern and we've loved Kings Island and we respect the fact that the management here is really dedicated to safety and I don't care how long it takes to open just as long as it's right," says Anderson.

Another Windseeker, at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, just opened on Tuesday morning. Bad weather delayed the opening of that ride, as well.